Tag Archives: Party ideas

Parties! I love going to them, I love hosting them and most of all, I love crafting for them! Pinterest has made me really step my party-throwing game up. Whether you’re throwing an extravagant 1st birthday party or just putting together a little brunch shower, I’ve found that you can really pull off a beautiful event by just adding some quick decorations in coordinating colors. Enter the Recollections™ Craft It™ line of paper goods.

Perhaps you have seen it in stores already? Looking down the aisle, the rainbow of colors and products just beg me to start creating anything and everything. There are so many great products to craft with. From fabric banners to paper pinwheels and some darling hanging décor kits, you will find something here to inspire you to create. And, it’s great for beginners that want to add a personalized touch to their party but don’t know where to start.

Host a classroom party with bright primary colors. Hanging lanterns and globes create height and draw attention to your party backdrop. Banner kits make big messages bold and come together in just a few easy steps. Create a chore chart with glassine bags, labels, paper straws and flags.Dress up snack time!Don’t miss out on these fun photo booth accessories that double as imaginary playtime props.These kits come with everything you need to create a color-themed party. Embellish them with dinosaurs, ice princesses or monograms, or use them plain to add bold color to your party. Make simple favors in a snap with glassine bags, clothespins and adhesive bows.

How cute are these paper pinwheels glued on toothpicks for customized cupcake toppers? What an easy way to dress up store-bought cupcakes.

There are so many great products to choose from, and each one is offered in a variety of colors. I love seeing them organized by color group so I can find everything that matches in one place or I can pull products from different color lines to match my exact party theme.

If you are planning a party or special event, your guests will be impressed with your attention to detail and handmade touches. Stop by your local Michaels to see this beautiful, colorful aisle in person.

Have you ever used any of the Craft It products for a celebration? Share photos with us on Instagram & Twitter using #MadeWithMichaels!

I adore Valentine’s Day! Red and pink hearts, chocolate temptations and Valentine’s Day cards make me smile. It’s also the perfect time to show a sweetheart, family and friends how much you love them. And what better way to show your love than with a delicious treat you make yourself? Whether you are a novice or have some baking experience, here are seven sweet Valentine’s Day confections to inspire you.

Stylish and sophisticated, this cake is as fancy as anything you’ll find at a bakery. Cut into the cake to reveal the real drama – multicolor tiers and a tiny heart design baked inside the bottom layer.

Watch how easy it is to make these oh-so-charming heart cookies! This free online class takes you through all the steps, including making the dough, cutting out shapes and using a pastry bag to create these colorful icing designs. To see how to decorate the three Valentine’s Day cookies above, skip to minute 39:30 of the 43-minute video.

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, I know many of you are helping your little Cupids craft handmade Valentines for their classmates and friends. Whether you’re a teacher or crafty room mom, we have gathered up a few classroom Valentine party ideas for you.

No party is complete with out some sweet treats! Valentine paper liners & picks make these cupcakes just a bit more sweet. If you’re in a pinch, you can add these glittery heart picks to store-bought cupcakes for that extra touch of love.

Are you crafting for the classroom this Valentine’s Day? Share your projects with us on Instagram & Pinterest using #MadeWithMichaels!

Summer is in full swing. Are you overheated yet? These hot temps are keeping me in the pool or in the A/C. The latter leaves me lots of time to pin projects that are inspiring me… now I just need to get to crafting them! Here’s a little round up for my July Craft Crush:

I love throwing parties. My favorite part is crafting all the little details that make the party unique and heartfelt. While throwing a party may seem a bit daunting, you can pull off a professional and whimsical party with just 5 main ingredients. We’ve rounded them up just for you in the Perfect Party Checklist.

1. Invitations

Set the tone for your party with a handcrafted invitations. Make them at home or design them online, either way you can create the perfect invite for a very special party. Don’t forget the Thank You Notes!

2. Decorations

Welcome guests into your party with a simple chalkboard sign. The best part is that you can reuse this sign for future parties or in your home décor. Adding details to the table really help set the scene. Frame your invite or scatter some pom poms; you’ll be surprised how easy this will add a little oomph to your party table.Banners are the easiest way to create a backdrop to a dessert or present table by giving it some height and drawing guests eyes to this area of the room. You can create a paper banner with pre-cut pennant garland, chipboard glitter letters, twine and ribbon. How easy!

3. Treats

Perhaps my favorite part of any party … the treats! Putting all of the snacks on a table makes a great focal point for your party. Warning – with a treat table like this, you may want to have Dad standing guard.Cake pops are a favorite. Not only are they adorable, but they’re easy for kids to eat and a great addition to a small cake.This Sprinkle Cake just makes me happy. Everyone loves rainbow sprinkles, right?Another fun treat – Party Cones! In just a few easy steps, you can make these fun cones to fill with popcorn, cheesy poofs or your favorite snack.

4. Entertainment & Favors

Fun outdoor toys like bubble wands are sure to keep the kids busy for at least 10 minutes. You’ll want a few of those, trust me.Another fun activity – a Rainbow Loom® station! Tell guests to bring their looms, then separate band colors into baking cups and let them go at it. Swapping bracelets is such a fun party activity!This dual purpose party activity keeps kids busy crafting and results in a favor they can take home with them.Have the kids craft their own party hats with adult supervision. In just a few easy steps each child will have their very own, handcrafted party hat!Don’t forget the favor bags. Colorful paper bags, washi tape & labels make these treats come together in a snap.

5. Gift Wrap

Gift wrap is made easy when you stick with basic solid surfaces and embellish. Glue pom poms to a brightly hued gift bag. Use adhesive letters on kraft paper, add a felt ornament or washi tape to present. Your efforts won’t go unnoticed and will make the guest of honor feel extra special.

If you can cover these 5 essentials, you’re all set for the perfect birthday party.

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Wilton® Sweet Up at their headquarters in Chicago. At this event they gave us a sneak peek of their new cake decorating courses, some of their new products that are arriving in our stores now and announced the baking trends for 2014.

While I was there, I had the chance to visit The Wilton® School in Darien, IL. We learned all about the history behind the company. Did you know that in 1929 Dewey McKinley Wilton first began to teach the now-famous “Wilton Method” that is taught in our stores?

While at the school, we got a little hands-on experimentation with the new Decorator Preferred Fondant. It’s very soft and easy to work with. Trust me, that’s supposed to be a rose … it’s a work in progress.

We practiced our icing skills:

And, we even partook in a friendly cake decorating competition. Our team took home the award for Most Varied Techniques.

Next up, we took a stroll through the Wilton Store. Yep, an entire store full of cake decorating supplies. It was a baker’s heaven for sure.

During this live press event Wilton announced the top baking trends for 2014.

1. Buttercream

Buttercream has been around for ages, but these are new trends in buttercream frosting like natural & organic colors and techniques. Keeping it simple, not overdone. This includes updating the texture of your decorating and adding new flavors like lime, rosewater or spirits.

2. Frosting Techniques

Using simple, more modern techniques like vertical ribbons, dots, petals. Another trend gaining momentum is the messy frosted cake finished with flowers on top.

3. Tall Cakes

The more layers, the better! Cakes are trending in 4+ layers. Want to know a little trick? Add decoration on top to add even more height! As you can see from this picture, Naked Cakes are all the rage and they’re super easy to make!

4. Small Treats

We’re seeing this bite-size trend pop up everywhere for a few reasons: guests feel less guilty about indulging in a small treat, you have the option of trying more than one kind of treat when they’re tiny and, things that are mini are oh so cute! Try mini bundts, mini donuts, molten cakes, petit fours and pops!

5. Fondant

New trends in fondant are sleek and sweet. Square covered cakes, bubbles, painted fondant and imprinting are all the rage.

Have you used any of these new trends in your cake decorating? We’d love to see your cakes!